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An online music webzine created by music lovers for music lovers.Mon, 02 Mar 2015 20:42:56 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1Set It Off Announce New Video Ahead Of Headline Tourhttp://www.rhythm-and-booze.co.uk/?p=11891
http://www.rhythm-and-booze.co.uk/?p=11891#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 20:42:56 +0000http://www.rhythm-and-booze.co.uk/?p=11891

SET IT OFF ANNOUNCE PREMIERES ‘ANCIENT HISTORY’ VIDEO

UK HEADLINE TOUR ANNOUNCED FOR MAY

Set It Off is premiering their high energy, cinematic music video for their impossibly catchy new single ‘Ancient History’ on setitoffband.com!

“Not too long ago I was in a relationship with someone that was very serious. We had a very firm connection, we lived together, it was great, but one day we had to split ways. Once the initial storm from the breakup had settled we realized something. We missed the sex. We knew it wasn’t a smart choice, but it was an easy choice. So then came the 2AM calls and the sneaking off. We eventually realized we were doing more damage than helping so we decided to call it quits and just stay friends,” reveals vocalist Cody Carson of the song.

“This song is about that particular situation. Also, the foundation vibe for this song was “That Thing You Do” from the popular Tom Hanks film and I LOOOVEE that song so much so I’m happy that double clap made it’s way into a Set It Off song.”

The band are also excited to today announce their return to the UK/Europe for their first headline run across the pond shortly before returning to America for Warped Tour.

“We just returned home from our recent tour in the UK/Europe with Crown The Empire, and were so overwhelmed with the response from the crowd. So…we are coming back for our VERY first headliner overseas!! I can’t wait to see everyone over there again and to see the full extent of what these crowds are capable of. European tours are a force to be reckoned with, but so are we, so all I have to say is, bring it on!”

The band is currently headlining The Glamour Kills Tour – the band’s first full US headline run in support of their new album Duality. Joining Set It Off on the nearly six-week tour is Against The Current, As It Is, and Roam.

Duality is out now and available digitally through iTunes, AmazonMP3, and Google Play, and at physical retailers such as Best Buy, FYE, Newbury Comics, MerchNOW and more.

]]>http://www.rhythm-and-booze.co.uk/?feed=rss2&p=118910Kill The Romantic-Fight Or Flighthttp://www.rhythm-and-booze.co.uk/?p=11888
http://www.rhythm-and-booze.co.uk/?p=11888#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 18:54:04 +0000http://www.rhythm-and-booze.co.uk/?p=11888Worcestershire based, three-piece alternative rock behemoths Kill The Romantic follow up their debut album (reviewed elsewhere on this very site) with a brand new four track EP (once again produced by Dave Draper), that sees them retain their combination of hard hitting riffs and infectious riffs, whilst adding a new found urgency, to create a punchier more immediate sound.

Each of the tracks have those impressive time changes and sudden twists and turns that compelled on the band’s debut, Collapsed Under Our Creation, but now the structures are condensed and instant, with the band moving effortlessly through the gears from melodic to raucous in the blink of an eye.

Bipolaroid Picture kicks proceedings off with a barrage of drums and an orgy of riffs before twisting into a glorious, melodic post hardcore/alternative rock monster, complete with intricate guitar twists, crooned and bellowed vocals, thrilling stop-starts and an all important killer hook, compelling the listener from the off.

A Great Day To Die is a fantastic showcase of the band’s vision, uniting crunchy riffs and battered drums with an almost sedate, melodic middle section that sees frontman Dale Tomkins unveil a delicate croon before the song twists again before its conclusion. The contrast of light and shade is stunning with the heavier elements seemingly hitting even harder after the more melodic passage.

The two remaining tracks, the intriguingly named How Tall Can A Midget Stand and the title track, Fight Or Flight add harmonies and oft kilter hooks to an already potent sound giving the band an almost commercial sound (in the same way that Biffy Clyro are radio friendly these days!!) yet still retaining their own unique identity and vision.

Kill The Romantic’s debut album was impressive, but the new EP sees the band progress to another level entirely, this is essential for anyone with even a passing interest in textured alternative rock or melodic post hardcore.

New Album ‘Digital Tropics’
Due Out On 27th May 2015 via
Small Pond Recordings

“…Mutiny On The Bounty’s wild time signatures and eclectic post-hardcore yelps invite the desire to listen again and again” – Kerrang! (4/5)

“…with careering riffs and electronic blips, this is a band that are intent on transporting you to another world” ­– Big Cheese (3/5)

Following on from their last album ‘Trials’ released in 2012, Luxembourg post-rock quartet Mutiny On The Bounty are ready to release their new album ‘Digital Tropics’. The new album comes in the wake of signing to new up-and-coming Brighton based record label Small Pond Recordings, and a UK tour in December 2014 which saw the band play alongside the likes of Maybeshewill, Flood of Red, Dialects and Polymath.

The new album sees the band fully embrace their instrumental side which was heavily championed on their last album. On the new album the band have said, “Digital Tropics” englobes all the facets of our personalities going from rock, to electro and more varied influences such as 80’s pop or even hip-hop. It gives a wider range of emotions and we believe that it’s a powerful album. We’re really proud of this album and can’t wait to share it with everyone”

The appropriately named lead track ‘MKL JCKSN’ is the perfect introduction to ‘Digital Tropics’, with reverb soaked and groove-infused staccato melodies from the guitars dancing around a technical and mechanically intricate rhythm section. Elsewhere tracks such as ‘Telekinesis’ infuse slightly heavier riffs and driving rhythm with guitars that sound closer to keys or synths than strings, giving the track a diverse and uplifting feel. This is where the inclusion of new influences can be heard, at times you can almost hear elements of Kraftwerk, whereas other areas are closer to bands such as ASIWYFA, Faraquet or Battles. Similarly this can also be heard in ‘Ecliptic’ which darts between the realms of electro, math-rock, and Vangelis/Brad Fiedel-esque moments of euphonious orchestration.

MOTB are a band that have soared from strength-to-strength with every album by delving further into their individual personalities to explore new sounds and composition techniques. In doing so the band have reached new territory exploring a more deceivingly moody soundscape than ‘Trials’ which is both technically challenging yet entirely danceable.

‘Digital Tropics’ is a work of relentless convergence and exploratory disposal that reaches to the heart of both emotional and creative expression. The result of which has created MOTB’s most diverse and accomplished album to date.

ZOAX supporting Fearless Vampire Killers in May!

ZOAX are happy to announce that they are heading out on tour in the UK with Fearless Vampire Killers in May. The band can’t wait to get back on the road supporting their new EP ‘Is Everybody Listening’. See all tour dates below.

Adam Carroll (vocals) comments: “We’re really excited to be going out on tour with Fearless Vampire Killers in May, I absolutely hope for their sake they like cans because we’re going to have a great time.”

As heard on Steve Lamacq, Mark Radcliffe, Lauren Laverne, Shaun Keaveny and more

SEARCHING FOR THE SUPERTRUTH (The title is borrowed from cosmic evolution theorist Rich Blundell) is a distinctive and diverse follow up to their acclaimed debut BROTHERS IN BROOKLYN and while it will continue to attract comparisons to Big Star, it also reaches out into new psychedelic realms and is filled with grand strings, strange poetry and backwards guitars. While the Americana narrative of the debut and recent EP Darkest Before The Dawn continues through tracks like Still Believe in You, Strange Glue and Dusty in Memphis, the emphasis and movement is towards the cosmic and mystical, more I Am The Cosmos than Back of a Car, making this the Spires’ most accomplished and moving release yet.

What is the supertruth? You’ll know when you find it. The answer’s all inside.

The record is produced by The Dreaming Spires and mixed by Rowland Prytherch, with additional production from Nick Holton andTony Poole. Guest musicians include Sarah Cracknell (St Etienne), Tony Poole (Starry Eyed & Laughing), Jackie Oates, Nick Holton (Black Hearted Brother) and “Free Jazz” Geoff Widdowson (Danny and the Champions of the World).

THE DREAMING SPIRES are brothers Robin and Joe Bennett, who also handle most instrumental duties, with Jamie Dawson on drums and percussion. Regular live guitarist Nick Fowler (also of Gaz Coombes’ band) contributes guitar to many tracks. Known to some as “the Notorious Bennett Brothers”, Robin and Joe have carved out some renown as accomplished musicians as well as co-founders of acclaimed festivals, a label and even a record store.

Their musical pedigree includes stints in Goldrush and Danny & the Champs, touring and recording with Mark Gardener of Ride, and collaborations with everyone from Gary Louris of The Jayhawks to Garth Hudson of The Band, Mercury Rev to Saint Etienne (the brothers recently headlined The Barbican as members of the present live incarnation of Saint Etienne). Joe also plays with fellow travelers Co_Pilgrim and Robin co-writes with several other acts and has his own side-project Dusty Sound System.

From their earliest guise (a band called Whispering Bob who released a mini-album in the late 90s and received airplay from radio legends John Peel and, naturally, Bob Harris) the Bennett brothers have long straddled a line between the influence of roots music, classic 60s pop and their youthful love of indie rock from both sides of the Atlantic, always anchored by their distinctive harmonies in the tradition of The Everly Brothers and The Byrds.

KARYN CRISIS’ GOSPEL
OF THE WITCHES
launch video for ‘The Alchemist’

Karyn Crisis – best known for her trademark melodic singing and growling roars as the vocalist of Crisis (1993-2006) and Ephel Duath (2011-2014) – will return with a new project, KARYN CRISIS’ GOSPEL OF THE WITCHES, and consequent album, ‘Salem’s Wounds’, this spring. Due out March 9th in Europe and March 24th in North America via Century Media Records, ‘Salem’s Wounds”’contains 13 tracks recorded by Karyn together with Davide Tiso (Ephel Duath), Ross Dolan (Immolation), Mike Hill (Tombs) and Charlie Schmid (Vaura).

Karyn Crisis comments: “I’m thrilled to release a new track off our forthcoming album entitled ‘The Alchemist,’ which is one of my favorite songs. While we’ve mostly released images and video clips full of atmosphere around the concept of this album, I felt that now is the perfect time for you to meet the band. We’ve all been rehearsing in preparation for our upcoming March shows, and we’ve been making a lot of magic in that rehearsal space, and have filled it with our hearts and souls. Bob Vigna of Immolation filmed and edited this video. Enjoy the vibes and meet the band: Davide Tiso guitars, Bob Vigna guitars, Ross Dolan bass and vocals, Charlie Schmid drums, and Karyn Crisis vocals.”

‘Salem’s Wounds’ was financed by fans via websites like Indiegogo/Etsy and was recorded at The Basement Recordings in North Carolina with producer Jamie King (Between The Buried And Me, The Contortionist). The album cover was painted by Karyn herself, who (in addition to her vocal talents) is a respected painter and leatherworker. See below for the complete album track-listing.

In support of this upcoming release, KARYN CRISIS’ GOSPEL OF THE WITCHES will perform two special shows in New York this March:KARYN CRISIS’ GOSPEL OF THE WITCHES live 2015:
March 28 – Trick Shot Billiards and Music Hall – Clifton Park, NY
March 29 – Saint Vitus – Brooklyn, NY

Birmingham punk trio Youth Man are pleased to announce that their new EP ‘Hill of Knives’ will be released on 27th April 2015 and will be available to purchase viabandcamp. The band have also revealed an extensive string of UK headline dates throughout May and June in support of the release.

The first track to be taken from the new EP, ‘Skin’, is already picking up support from BBCR1 scoring plays from Daniel P Carter and Zane Lowe. You can now watch the video for ‘Skin’ after it’s premiere with AltPress – the track is available to download for free here:

Recorded and produced by the band with Isaac “Ike” Cartwright at Muthers Studio in Birmingham, the single is the latest in a drip-feed of new material from ‘Hill of Knives’. Previously, their critically acclaimed early 2014 EP ‘Bad Weather’ combined with an explosive live show to catapult them into the sights of the music press, with Rolling Stone Magazine recently hailing them as one of “10 New Artists You Need To Know”.

MODERN BASEBALL UK/EU Tour Begins
19th March 2015

Praise for ‘You’re Gonna Miss It All’:“…infectious songs that are both sharply observed and sharply written.” – Pitchfork (7.2)

“The soft-loud dynamics of emo underpin nearly every song on You’re Gonna Miss It All, and contemplative verses routinely give way to soaring choruses.” – Consequence of Sound

“This is an essential album in 2014.” – Absolute Punk

ICYMI: Modern Baseball will be heading out on tour this month with Into It. Over It. and Tiny Moving Parts. As such, their will be some very limited guestlist and interview opportunities available for the following shows:Tour Dates:

UK Dates:
24/03 Southampton, Joiners SOLD OUT
25/03 Manchester, Sound Control
26/03 Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
27/03 Glasgow, Stereo SOLD OUT
28/03 London, Tufnell Park Dome SOLD OUT
29/03 Bristol, The Fleece

Modern Baseball was formed in 2011 by friends and guitarists Jacob Ewald and Brendan Lukens, who were soon joined by Ian Farmer on bass and Sean Huber on drums. The band self-released their first EP The Nameless Ranger in 2011 while still in high school. Shortly after the members relocated to Philadelphia to attend college and quickly gained a strong following in the Philadelphia music community, teaming up with locals Marietta to release the Couples Therapy split in the spring of 2012. Modern Baseball released their debut full-length Sports later that year on Lame-O Records, which they self-recorded and produced. After spending the summer of 2013 touring heavily across the US, the band headed into Studio A in Philadelphia to self-record You’re Going to Miss It All. Mixed by Jonathan Low at Minor Street Recordings and mastered by Will Yip, You’re Going to Miss It All features 12 tracks that showcase the band’s signature witty indie-pop.

Modern Baseball’s second full-length album ‘You’re Gonna Miss It All’ (released via Run For Cover Records in early 2014) received vast critical acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork (7.2), Consequence of Sound, Kerrang!, Rock Sound and more. The album saw the band find the perfect balance between indie-rock, pop-punk and emo-rock. This will also be the bands third EU/UK tour in 18 months, which should serve as proof of the bands appeal.

Two volumes, due out December 16, 2014 and Spring 2015, cover 1968-1975

Volumes to be made available digitally for first time

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Concord Music Group and Stax Records are proud to announce the digital release and physical reissue of two comprehensive box set titles: The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971 and The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 3: 1972-1975. Originally released in 1993 and 1994, respectively, these two compilations will be re-released back into the physical market in compact and sleek new packaging. Each set includes full-color booklets with in-depth essays by Stax historian and compilations co-producer Rob Bowman. The volumes feature stalwart Stax R&B artists including Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, Carla Thomas, the Bar-Kays and William Bell, as well as bluesmen Little Milton, Albert King and Little Sonny, and “second generation” Stax hitmakers like Jean Knight, the Soul Children, Kim Weston, the Temprees, and Mel & Tim. Many of the tracks included in these collections will be made available digitally for the very first time.

The story of the great Memphis soul label Stax/Volt can be divided into two distinct eras: the period from 1959 through the beginning of 1968, when the company was distributed by Atlantic and was developing its influential sound and image (chronicled in acclaimed 9-CD box set The Complete Stax/Volt Singles 1959-1968, released by Atlantic in 1991); and the post-Atlantic years, from May 1968 through the end of 1975, when Stax/Volt began its transition from a small, down-home enterprise to a corporate soul powerhouse.

In Stax’s early years as an independent label, founders Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton struggled with the loss of its back catalog to Atlantic/Warner Brothers Records and the loss of the label’s most lucrative artist, Otis Redding, who tragically died in a plane crash months before. In need of funding and new stars, Axton and Stewart sold the label to Gulf + Western, bringing on promotion head Al Bell (who would soon become an equal partner and major figurehead of the label). In his Vol. 2 essay, Rob Bowman recalls, “As the sun arose in Memphis on May 6, 1968 [the day Stax officially became independent of Atlantic], Stax had been essentially gutted. For all intents and purposes it was a new record company poised to issue its first few records.”

Comprised of nine CDs, Vol. 2 focuses on this period, 1968 through 1971, when Stax/Volt was forging ahead as its own entity. The 216-song collection includes all of the singles issued by the label during this time period, and features some of the biggest and best-loved hits of the day, including Isaac Hayes’ “Theme From Shaft,” The Staple Singers’ “Respect Yourself” and Johnnie Taylor’s “Who’s Making Love,” as well as a number of little-known gems by both major and less-familiar artists.

By the end of 1971, Bowman notes, “Al Bell’s dream of [Stax/Volt] becoming a diversified full-line record company was several steps further along the line to being reality. The label now recorded a wealth of different styles and flavors of black popular music, ranging from the jazz and easy-listening proclivities of Isaac Hayes to the blues of Little Milton to the ’70s disco-infused vocal style of the Dramatics to the gutsy soul of the Staple Singers.” Indeed, the early 1970s found Stax/Volt a much bigger entity than ever thought possible during its initial split from Atlantic, with Isaac Hayes as its breakout star. Spurred by the success of Hayes’ GRAMMY Award-Winning Shaft soundtrack in early 1972, the label was casting its net across a wide cross section of the entertainment industry, entering into new territory with soundtracks, comedy records, and even investing in a Broadway play. The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 3: 1972-1975, coming Spring 2015, covers this era of success and excess, when Stax’s stars were shining bright, but the label was on the verge of its dramatic denouement. The 10-disc box set contains all 213 soul singles issued by Stax/Volt during this time, including such hits as Shirley Brown’s “Woman to Woman” and the Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There.”

In 1976, faced with involuntary bankruptcy and an unsuccessful distribution deal with CBS Records, Stax was forced to close its doors. In his liner notes for Vol. 3, compilation co-producer Bill Belmont writes, “Stax’s difficult and inglorious end in no way diminishes its vital contributions to rhythm and blues and soul. Today, the music of Stax maintains a strong and steady presence, heard continually in cover versions by major artists, in movies and on television. Simply put, the Memphis Sound lives.” And indeed it does.

With a revival of the label in recent years, through Fantasy Records, the 2003 opening of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, Tenn., as well as several developing theatrical performances around the label, the music of Stax will continue to influence generations of musicians and fans alike.